Vigil Held In Downtown Dallas For 3 Muslim Students Killed
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Hundreds of people packed into Dealey Plaza in Downtown Dallas Friday night to honor the memory of three students who investigators said were gunned down and killed this week.
"Sad. A brother died. A brother, a fellow brother," said Hasan Quadir, a Richardson resident.
Most in the crowd were from the Muslim community.
Nearly everyone held a candle or a sign pushing for peace and understanding.
"These little innocent children. They didn't do anything. They were just living their lives going to school, trying to get an education and have a future and then someone tries to stop these poor innocent three children? It's just heartbreaking," said Alia Abu-Goush, a Forth Worth resident.
While police have not confirmed the shooting to be a "hate crime," many in the crowd believe the killings were based on their faith.
"It's our responsibility as a community, as a Dallas/Fort Worth/North Texas Community. Not a Muslim, not a Jew, not a Christian, or a black or white. A whole community (needs) to stand up against hate," said Alia Salem of the Council on America Islamic Relations.
The crowd also had some folks who were not Muslim, like Reverend We Magruder of Kessler Park United Methodist Church.
"If we as Christians were being persecuted, we'd want other people of faith to stand with us," said Magruder.
One imam told the crowd not to fight fire with fire and preached peace when dealing with the killings of the three Muslim students in North Carolina.
(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)